There is little doubt when announced in 2013 as to whether the wealthy Arab nation can host such a celebration of brilliance in 2020. The six-month Expo 2020 will officially open in October this year. Expo 2020 Director-General Reem Al-Hashimy said, it will “offer a window into the once-in-a-lifetime celebration with an estimated 25 million visitors from 192 countries around the world.

The other six emirates will also mark the occasion with free-for-all activities in venues such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Al Majaz Waterfront in Sharjah, Ajman Museum, Umm Al Quwain Corniche, Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah Fort.

This World’s Fair (1851) is a 170-year old legacy that has given us #Dinosaurs (sculptures created at Crystal Palace, London’s 1852 world fair), #Olympics (Athens games 1896 & 1900 Universelle in Paris, a side show of world fair), #Eiffel Tower (France’s 1889 world fair), #Seattle Space Needle (USA), #Brussels Atomium (Belgium), #Melbourne Gardens (Australia), #Disneyland (New York’s 1964 world fair).

Some innovative products were revealed in the past events of the world’s fair such as X-ray machines, ice-cream and mobile phones.

The Expo 2020 is about the size of 400 Cricket pitches, a 40-minute drive from Dubai. The main dome at the centre of the space, Al Wasl Plaza, will be big enough to park A380 jumbo jets in the dome. It will be later reconfigured (80%) as part of the master-planned smart city at Dubai South as knowledge city, parks and green space. It will become home to a million residents and will create 400,000 job opportunities.

Capital expenditure is about $10.1 billion and expected to increase GDP by 1.5%. A $53 million New Zealand pavilion is created for the World Expo in Dubai, under the theme “Care for People and Place”. It is expected that 40,000 New Zealanders will visit Expo 2020. (Taken from New Zealand Herald, Arab News).

South Dubai

Al Wasl Plaza-Dome

Gate to Welcome
$53 million New Zealand Pavilion